Vehicle-axle



W. S. PLATT.

VEHICLE AXLB.

Patented July 19,1881.

f UNITED ASTirvrns PT ICE v WILLIAM s. PLATT," oF .WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

fVEHICLE-AXLE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters' Patent No. 244,661, dated July 19, 1881.

applic-.dion ined November ai, 1ers.

To all/whom, lima-y concern a Y l Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. BLATT, of

'Waterbury, in the county of. New Haven and State of Connecticut, have in venteda new and Im proved Axle` and vAxle-Box.; and I do hereby declare that 4,the following'is a full, clear,

me'nt inaxles and 4axle-boxes; `and theinvention consists in an axle-box constructed with a spindle centrally placed and fixed within it, and an axle-arm consisting substantially of a hollow cylinder, within which is received thel interior spindle of the box, thespindle within I the box forming an interior bearin g-surface for I parts in the several gures. Y

the axle-arm, and the outer surfaceof the axlearm also forming a bearingwithinthe box, so

that the axle-arm, in this way constructed, hasv two bearing-surfaces within the axle-box which receives it, the axle-arm being` provided with a collar, and also with a nut,whereby `the axlearm is retained within the box, and the wearing of the collar and the end of the axle-arm within the boxtaken np.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fi gure 1 is a side view of my axle and axle-box; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section vof same in the line x a', Fig. 1;Fig. 3, a side view of axlearm, partly in section 5 Fig. 4, a cross-section through line y y, Fig. 2; Fig. 5,'a front'view of sectional nut, and Fig. 6 a front view of ring for sectional nut.

Similar letters of reference indicate like `In axles for vehicles,as they are ordinarily constructed, the axle-arm is made so as to have but one bearing-surface within the axle-boxthat is, its outer surface; and as the arm wears within the box, oras the box wears around the arm, or as they both become worn, the loose i'tting between the axle-arm and the box in this way produced causes lost motion and rattling, and the wheel no longer revolves truly.

To obviate this defect, an'd to construct anl axle-arm and axle-box that will insure a true revolution of the wheel and prevent the nnequal Wearing bf the axle-box and the axlearm within it, and at the same time to provide for the-complete and uniform lubrication of the axle-arm within the box, I construct my `boxA with a spindle, B, centrally fixed within Vthe box atits outer end. This spindle is cylindrical, and may extend upward within the box more or less, orto very nearly its entire length, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of thebox A is enlarged at a, and counterbored to form a shoulder, b, within it, and has screw- .it `closely lits. Into the axle-arm C, and in the direction of its length, is bored a cylindrical opening, c. This cylindrical opening is of a diameterthat will` enable the .spindle BvtoV snugly-titwithin it, so that when lthe axle-armis yplaced within the axle-box the exterior surface ot' the arm will closely t within the interior surface of the box, and the exterior snrface of the spindle will closely tit within the 'cylindrical opening c.

To the axle-arm C is lixed a collar, d, which l is receivedwithin the enlarged portiona of the box and rests against the shoulder b within it when the varm is within the box, as just described and also on the arm C, between the collar d and a flange,` e, formed thereon, is

placed a nut, f, with screw-threads cut upon it to correspond with the screw-threads cut within the enlarged portion at of the box. If the collar d is forged upon the arm, .the nut f maybe made in two pieces, as shown in Fig.5, so that it can be readily applied to the arm; but it' the collar d is screwed or keyed in place, the nutf need not be so crit. When it is cut, however, the ring y, placed around the nut, will serve to keep the sections of' thelnnt in place when the axle-arm is removed from the box, and the ring also serves the purpose ot' a` washer. Into the flange e is drilled an oilhole, t'. drical opening c in the axle-arm.

Now, the axle-box and axle-arm, constructed substantially as I have described them, are combined by placing the arm within the box, in the manner hereinbefore described, an'd screwing the nut f within the enlarged por- IOO 6o threads cut within the interior of the enlarged tion a of thebox, which secures the arm within the box; and when in this position it will be seen that the axle-arm revolves on two bearings, the bearing formed by the exterior of the spindle B within the 'cylindrical opening c ot the axle-arm, and the bearing formed by the interior of the box on the exterior of the axlearm, thereby increasing the bearing-surface and producing steadiness and trueness in the revolution of the wheel, and preventing unequal wearing of the arm within the box and rattling, and also reducing the amount of general wear.

Should the box, axle-arm, spindle, and collar become worn, so as to cause end play to any extent, this end play can be at once taken up by means of the nutf, and, if need be, by reducing the thickness of the metal ring g, or, if necessary, by placing two or more metal rings of similar character upon the nut f, and by removing one of theseA rings, enable the nut to be operated for the purpose of taking up end play. It is not believed, however, that any end play can take place which will require attention, until after a very long use 'or service, in an axle-box and axle arm properly constructed, as has been described.

Still another and important advantage is derived from the construction of an axle-box and axle-arm as described, which advantage is the uniform distribution of thelubricant employed,

for by my construction of axle and box a light, free-flowing oil may be employed, which from its character will readily low and find access to all the parts of the arm and box and spindie, which would not be the case when the Thc oil is inserted face of the box, thoroughly lubricating all the wearin g portions of the arm. rlhe opening i, through which the oil is introduced,should be stopped up to prevent the exit of the oil. The

oil, it will be seen from the construction of my box, is prevented from escaping at its outer end. The ingress ot" grit and dust at the outer `end is wholly obviated also.

Having now described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An axle-arm constructed with a cylindrical opening, c, in combination with a spindie, B, fixed within the axle-box A, and received within the opening c of the axle-arm, whereby an interior bearing is formed within the axle-arm, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an axle-arm, the combination of a revolving nut with one or more metallic rings around the same, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an axle-arm, a sectional nut, in coinbination with one or more metallic rings, sub stantially as and for the purpose described. WM. S. PLATT.

Witnesses C. S. ABBOTT, E. G. ADAMS. 

